PISCATAWAY – At his current pace, Desmon Peoples could be two weeks away from having as many spring practice Most Improved Offensive Player awards as he does games played to show for his Rutgers football career.

One year ago at this time, Peoples inserted himself into the mix to replace 1,000-yard rusher Jawan Jamison with a breakout spring camp. Now, after slipping — literally so, if you consider his last carry — out of the plans, the rising redshirt sophomore is redefining “breakout” as it applies to him.

“I don’t know if he is having a better spring, but he is a better player,” coach Kyle Flood said. “I don’t think there is any doubt about that. I think last year we saw the beginning stages of it. Now we’re seeing a much more complete Desmon Peoples. That’s the exciting thing because we knew when we recruited him that he could run with the football, but now we’re seeing him catch it out of the backfield. We’re seeing him block. We’re seeing all these little things you need a guy to do to have an opportunity to be a great back.”

As Paul James rushed his way to First-Team American Athletic Conference honors, Justin Goodwin picked up the slack in James’ injury absence and Savon Huggins found a niche in short yardage and pass protection, Peoples managed six carries for 19 yards over two games. Lining up for pre-practice stretching lines behind three other running backs, Peoples wondered if his best opportunity already had come and gone.

“That was always a thought,” he said, “but I was just going to keep grinding it out here. No doubt in my mind.”

The decision to continue preparing like a starter was a smart one by Peoples, who suddenly is in the feature position. James and Huggins are sidelined for the rest of spring and Goodwin is out right now, leaving the former Mr. Most Improved with a chance to further develop.

“I’m always trying to build on every chance I get,” Peoples said. “I’m just trying to come out here and do what I need to do to become a better player all-around. It’s easy to come out here and keep getting better. It’s very different because I do have more of a foundation and I am more familiar with the offense. I’m getting better at knowing what I have to do.”

As is the case with most young backs of a similar stature, the sleek 5-foot-8, 175-pounder’s progress starts with pass-blocking. For example, Goodwin’s time on the field was limited as a true freshman in part because he struggled in such situations.

“We all know Desmon can run the football and he can make people miss and do electric things, but when it comes down to it you’ve got to understand pass blocking and the schemes and things like that,” middle linebacker Kevin Snyder said. “He has made a lot of strides in that part of the game, which is allowing him to stay on the field.”

Quarterback Gary Nova said the biggest difference between Peoples’ two spring performances is his unfazed attitude even after making a mistake.

“When you are asked to step up and be with the ones you can be scared or be complacent,” Nova said. “He’s just going hard and attacking it every day. I don’t think he is making the same mistake twice.”

Actually, that’s something of a motto for Peoples, who “always” thinks about his finale to last season. On a third-and-2 in the second quarter Oct. 26 against Houston, with Rutgers already trailing by 14 points, Peoples took a pitch left and slipped for a three-yard loss.

“It bothers me and it motivates me,” said Peoples, who was glued to the bench for the final five games. “Plays like that can’t happen. When I’m in, that’s never going to happen again.”

The plan determining how often Peoples and the other running backs will be in the game won’t be decided until training camp, Flood said.

While Peoples, who likely has one of the lowest body fat percentages on the team, seems to naturally fit the mold of a third-down change-of-pace back, he says he is confident he can withstand the pounding reserved for a Big Ten halfback. Wisconsin and Penn State both used three backs last season.

“I’m not looking toward the future. That will come. I’m just looking to see what I can improve on,” Peoples said. “I believe that I am a playmaker and when I have the ball in my hands I do make plays. I feel like I can do it day-in, day-out.”